E-mail this article

Sending your article

There will be no fine or suspension resulting from Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara's hit on Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty last night in Montreal.

The league released the following statement from senior vice president of hockey operations Mike Murphy:

"I conducted a hearing with Boston Bruins' defenseman Zdeno Chara with respect to the major penalty for interference and game misconduct that he was assessed at 19:44 of the second period for a hit on Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens.

"After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous.

"This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface. In reviewing this play, I also took into consideration that Chara has not been involved in a supplemental discipline incident during his 13-year NHL career."

Pacioretty suffered a severe concussion and a fractured vertebra when he was pushed into the boards near the Bruins bench and his head struck a post that holds the protective glass around the rink.

Matt Keator, Chara's agent, confirmed that his client has never been subject to a disciplinary hearing, much less a suspension.